419 scam: "OFFICE"<info@senate.org> Hello'

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "from the desk of" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "your payment is being processed" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "transfer into your account" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "million dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- ",500,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "00,000.00" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "power of attorney" (with your bank details and a power of attorney form criminals sometimes empty bank accounts)
- "central bank of nigeria" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
- "abuja" (a location commonly mentioned in 419 scams)
This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.

Fraud email example:

From: "OFFICE" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <info_offi123@yahoo.co.jp>
Date: Sat, 7 May 2011 00:20:49 -0700
Subject: Hello'

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN PAYMENT
GARKI - ABUJA, NIGERIA

>From the Desk of:
Senator Ehigie Edobor Uzamere
Senate Chairman on Local and Foreign Debts
Garki - Abuja, Nigeria

Hello

This is to notify you of your Payment with refrence Number:
AV/FGN/MIN/0011. On behalf of the entire staff of Central Bank of
Nigeria, and the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaborated with
the Authorities, who are in charge of foreign payments. We Apologies,
for the delay of your payment, the Inconveniences and Inflict that we
might have indulge you through. You are also to note that the
presidency has mandated and instructed us that we should immediately
verify all this and carryout your payment without further delay to
avoid any embarrassment this might course this nation and also
yourself.

>From the Records of outstanding payment with the federal government of
Nigeria, your name was discovered as next on the list of the
outstanding who have not yet received their payments. I wish to inform
you now that the square peg is now in square hole, and can be voguish
for that your payment is being processed and will be released to you
as soon as you respond to this letter. Also note that from my record
in my file your outstanding payment is US$5,500,000.00 million
dollars.

However, where having some serious problems with your payment which
have demoralized us, In respect to this payment, one Mr. John Tasi
submitted an application that you authorized your funds to be paid to
him on your behalf to this account Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS)
with Account number UBS-A943BDG99 with a report that you are now
paralyzed as a result of the ghastly motor accident you had some
months back and we would like to confirm the below.

(1) Did you at any time delegate any body not even from your family to
claim your fund on your behalf?
(2) Were you involved in a motor accident?
(3) Are you aware or related to one Mr. John Tasi? Or issued him any
Power of Attorney nor signed any Deed of Agreement?

Kindly confirm to me if you truly authorized this act or not as I
sense that your funds are been diverted.

Be also informed that your payment will be effected to you via direct
bank transfer into your account that you will be required to provide
later. You are highly required to get back to me a.s.a.p to this email

Anticipating your prompt response.

Senator Ehigie E. Uzamere
(Notification For Your Payment)

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam